Duncan's delight

Duncan's car full of deer stakes and guards.

Duncan (and presumably Harvey the dog) were hard at work yesterday retrieving valuable deer stakes and guards from Parkwood. Excellent work! We promise we will take up the baton and start Summer work soon.

Philip and I spent the morning visiting two landowners, and hope that will result in two mornings of planting in the coming Season. 400 trees apiece would be about right. One is a bridleway near old Ground, which could do with tree lining, the other is a field below Pasture Wood in Marsden.

Dave was also out and about, but I can't remember where he said he was.

And lastly, another cartoon...

Cartoon!

This comic strip (and four others) were created by Dave Beeston in 2002. The origin of "mattock rouge" is that particular volunteers develop affections for digging with particular mattocks, which are then personalised with a dab of paint or other adornment. We have had mattock rouge, mattock bleu and mattock orange. Plus others which are identified by minor differences imperceptible to the uninitiated. Somehow the rough charms of mattock rouge got thoroughly imaginated into a fully fledged super-hero. Dave as very carefully (and only slightly) changed the names of all individuals and places featured in the comics.

The last, last, day of the planting season.

We thought it was all over, it is now. We made one last foray, up to Pasture Wood above Marsden to plant 200 Sessile Oak. We were: myself, Geoff, Cath, Steve, Dave, Stephen, Peter W., Guy, Mandy, Duncan and Harvey the dog, and Ian Butterfield from Forest of Bradford. At break we finished off the last of the 50th Anniversary fruit cake.

We will now have  few weeks rest, before announcing our schedule of Summer work days.

Mandy

New merchandise, patches. £2 each.

Our 50th Anniversary event.

Founder Dr Derek Phillips speaking

Just a few words to say that on Saturday 5th April at Broad Oak Bowling Club we had our 50th Anniversary event. It was very well attended, with over 100 guests. Geoff premiered his film "Tree People" and there were speeches from Philip, David Ridgway, and found Dr. Derek Phillips. Guest included Sir John Harman and Jason McCartney MP. A great time was had by all.

Scammonden and Marsden

Now this is the sort of creativity the Society needs!

So, we were aiming for this to be the last day of the planting season, as our stocks of trees were coming into bud, and we want to be leave next Saturday free for 50th Anniversary preparations.

Philip led a crew to Scammonden. We were: Philip, myself, Remy, Hap, Stephen, Peter T, Steve, and Cath. We planted 70 or so remaining Oaks from the Green Building Store project - and 60 Downy Birch plus 30 Hawthorn leftovers from last week's Woodland Trust planting at Parkwood.

Brian led his team to Marsden Golf course, comprising; Vashti, Duncan, Ben, Dianne, and Trevor. They had 100 bare rooted Oak to squeeze in between existing planting.

Cake was ginger.

Guy was toiling away a the Nursery, trying to move hardcore and save our windblown polytunnel.

The cartoon is an RSVP from an ex-member, and when we see them on the 5th we may well commission some more. Brilliant!

Lindley Owls and Butterley Twite

So once again we were in two groups. Philip led the team to Butterley. They were: Philip, Hap, Ben, Neil, Vashti, and Peter T. They almost finished the Where Birds go to die planting, leaving about 40 left to do.

I took a team up to Parkwood Golcar. We were: myself, Brian, Geoff, Jess, Duncan and Harvey the Dog and Stephen. We were joined by Yolande and Sue from Lindley Infants school, and they brought with them two Guides, Hope and Sunner, and selection of parents and children from the school. Together we planted exactly 300 trees. Weather was a bit mixed, mostly good all morning, but with rain sodden ground, and one outbreak of cold sleet. The Butterley crew were less lucky with the weather and arrived back at the pub quite damp.

Mr Moriarty looking a bit muddy

Parkwood before

Parkwood after

Scammonden and Butterley

CVTS and Green Building Store at break time

Two teams played today. First of all Philip took Brian, Peter W, Peter T, Trevor, Duncan, Stephen and Ben to Scammonden to meet folk from the Green Building Store. The Green Building Store were sponsoring the planting, and joined in too. They planted around 170 out of the 250 sponsored trees.

The B team was myself, Geoff, Dave, Remy, Hap, Steve and Andrew. We began planting the final 400 at Butterley, and managed 180 of them. We were somewhat beleaguered by the mad wind that blew all morning.

Meltham Kop

Steve, Cath, and Ben (photo by Duncan)

Today, courtesy of the Woodland Trust and Ikea, we began planting 420 more trees on Meltham Kop. The trees were the Woodland Trust's "wildlife pack" designed to enhance food and shelter for a variety of birds and small mammals. We were: myself, Philip, Jess, Dianne (and Lizzie the dog), Cath, Geoff, Trevor, Brian, Vashti, Steve, Hap, Ben, Duncan (and Harvey the dog), Neil, Julia, and Ramsay. We were using recycled stakes and guards, collected by the Senior Section. Nice and bright morning, but damn windy.

Lizzie the dog and Jess